Patna: The Dalai Lama has thanked Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the warm hospitality extended
to the Tibetan spiritual leader during his recent visit to
Patna to attend the inaugural function of Buddha Smriti Park
as part of the commemoration of 2550th anniversary of
Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha.

"I was very touched by the warm friendship with which
you and your government received me. I shall be pleased to
assist in any way I can in making this project successful,"
the Dalai Lama said in a letter to Kumar.

"More than ever before, we all need the values of
compassion. In addition to India`s valuable tradition of
tolerance and ahimsa, the Buddhist concept of interdependence
and the peaceful culture, particularly, Buddhist philosophy
and Buddhist science have so much relevance in today`s
world," he said in the letter.

He said therefore the Buddha Smriti park with all its
facilities like the library, meditation and learning centre
can help in playing a significant role in imparting education
about this philosophy.